David's Battles with the Philistines and the Valor of His Men
2 Samuel 21:15-22
2 S.21.15 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- ותהי: VERB,qal,perf,3,f,sg
- עוד: ADV
- מלחמה: NOUN,f,sg,abs
- לפלשתים: PREP+NOUN,m,pl,abs
- את: PRT,acc
- ישראל: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- וירד: VERB,qal,wayyiqtol,3,m,sg
- דוד: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- ועבדיו: CONJ+NOUN,m,pl,abs+3ms
- עמו: PREP+PRON,3,m,sg
- וילחמו: VERB,qal,impf,3,m,pl
- את: PRT,acc
- פלשתים: NOUN,m,pl,cstr
- ויעף: VERB,qal,impf,3,m,sg
- דוד: NOUN,m,sg,abs
Parallels
- 1 Chron.20.4-8 (verbal): Nearly identical retelling: begins 'after this there was war with the Philistines' and recounts the same battles and the killing of Philistine champions (parallel wording and incidents).
- 2 Sam.5.17-25 (structural): Earlier major episode of David's wars with the Philistines (Baal-perazim, the valley of Rephaim); parallels the theme of repeated Philistine conflicts and David personally going out to fight.
- 1 Chron.14.8-17 (thematic): Chronicles' parallel account of David's defeats of the Philistines when he 'went down' to battle and sought the LORD's guidance—reflects the same pattern of conflict and divine consultation.
- 1 Sam.17.32-54 (thematic): The youthful confrontation with the Philistine champion (Goliath) establishes the recurring motif of David battling Philistines and defeating their mighty men, a thematic background for later combats like 2 Sam 21:15.
Alternative generated candidates
- And there was yet another battle between the Philistines and Israel; David went down, and his servants with him, and they fought the Philistines, and David grew faint.
- And there was again war with the Philistines against Israel. David went down with his servants and fought the Philistines, and David grew faint.
2 S.21.16 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- וישבי: CONJ+NOUN,m,pl,abs
- בנב: PREP+NOUN,m,sg,abs
- אשר: PRON,rel
- בילידי: PREP+NOUN,m,pl,cons
- הרפה: NOUN,m,sg,def
- ומשקל: CONJ+NOUN,m,sg,abs
- קינו: NOUN,m,sg,abs+3ms
- שלש: NUM,card,f,sg
- מאות: NOUN,f,pl,abs
- משקל: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- נחשת: NOUN,f,sg,abs
- והוא: CONJ+PRON,3,m,sg
- חגור: VERB,qal,ptc,NA,m,sg
- חדשה: ADJ,f,sg,abs
- ויאמר: VERB,qal,perf,3,m,sg
- להכות: VERB,qal,inf
- את: PRT,acc
- דוד: NOUN,m,sg,abs
Parallels
- 1 Chronicles 20:5-8 (quotation): A direct retelling of the same series of encounters with the Rephaim/giants (including the warrior who threatened David); many verbal details parallel 2 Samuel’s account.
- 1 Samuel 17:4-7 (thematic): The Goliath episode: a towering warrior who defies Israel and carries a massive spear (resolved by David or his men); supplies the broader David–giant motif and similar spear imagery ('weaver’s beam').
- 2 Samuel 21:18-22 (structural): The surrounding verses in the same chapter record related episodes against the descendants of the Rephaim (other giant fighters, the man with six fingers, and their deaths), forming the full narrative context for v.16.
- Deuteronomy 2:11 (allusion): Mentions the Rephaim (Rapha) as a race of ancient giants; provides background for the identification of these adversaries as members of the 'Rapha' (Rephaim) tradition.
Alternative generated candidates
- Ishbi-benob, one of the descendants of the Rapha, whose spear weighed three hundred shekels of bronze and who was girded with a new sword, planned to strike David.
- And Ishbi-Benob, who was one of the descendants of Rapha, whose bronze spear weighed three hundred shekels and who was girded with a new sword, intended to strike David.
2 S.21.17 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- ויעזר: VERB,qal,perf,3,m,sg
- לו: PRON,3,m,sg
- אבישי: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- בן: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- צרויה: NOUN,f,sg,abs
- ויך: VERB,qal,perf,3,m,sg
- את: PRT,acc
- הפלשתי: NOUN,m,sg,def
- וימיתהו: VERB,hiph,impf,3,m,pl,obj3,m,sg
- אז: ADV
- נשבעו: VERB,niphal,perf,3,m,pl
- אנשי: NOUN,m,pl,cons
- דוד: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- לו: PRON,3,m,sg
- לאמר: INF,qal,infc
- לא: PART_NEG
- תצא: VERB,qal,impf,2,ms
- עוד: ADV
- אתנו: PRON,1,pl
- למלחמה: PREP+NOUN,f,sg,abs
- ולא: CONJ
- תכבה: VERB,qal,impf,2,m,sg
- את: PRT,acc
- נר: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- ישראל: NOUN,m,sg,abs
Parallels
- 1 Chron.20.4-8 (structural): Parallel retelling of the same series of clashes with Philistines and giants; 1 Chronicles 20 recounts the same episodes found in 2 Samuel 21 (including the slaying of Philistine warriors).
- 2 Sam.23.18 (verbal): Another notice of Abishai son of Zeruiah and his prowess among David’s mighty men (kills many enemies); reinforces his role as a chief warrior like in 2 Samuel 21:17.
- 1 Chron.11.22-23 (thematic): Portrays Abishai’s valor and status among David’s warriors (noting large-scale slayings and leadership), thematically linking to his killing of a Philistine and the esteem shown by David’s men in 2 Samuel 21:17.
- 1 Sam.17.50-51 (thematic): David’s victory over the Philistine giant (Goliath) provides a thematic parallel—Israelite heroes defeating Philistine champions and the national significance of such victories, echoing the concern to protect key leaders (‘lamp of Israel’).
Alternative generated candidates
- But Abishai son of Zeruiah came to his aid and struck the Philistine and killed him. Then the men of David swore to him, saying, “Do not go out with us again to battle; do not quench the lamp of Israel.”
- Then Abishai son of Zeruiah came to his aid and struck the Philistine and killed him. Then the men swore to David, saying, "You shall not go out with us again to battle, so that you do not quench the lamp of Israel."
2 S.21.18 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- ויהי: VERB,qal,wayyiqtol,3,m,sg
- אחרי: PREP
- כן: ADV
- ותהי: VERB,qal,perf,3,f,sg
- עוד: ADV
- המלחמה: NOUN,f,sg,def
- בגוב: PREP+NOUN,m,sg,abs
- עם: PREP
- פלשתים: NOUN,m,pl,cstr
- אז: ADV
- הכה: VERB,qal,perf,3,m,sg
- סבכי: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- החשתי: NOUN,m,sg,def
- את: PRT,acc
- סף: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- אשר: PRON,rel
- בילדי: PREP+NOUN,m,pl,cstr
- הרפה: NOUN,m,sg,def
Parallels
- 1 Chronicles 20:6 (verbal): Direct parallel account of the same episode—identifies 'Sibbecai the Hushathite' killing 'Sippai,' one of the sons of the giant (close verbal correspondence to 2 Sam 21:18).
- 2 Samuel 21:15-22 (structural): The larger narrative unit listing David's battles with the Philistines and the slain 'giants'—2 Sam 21:18 is one verse within this contiguous section and is best understood in this broader context.
- 1 Samuel 17:1-58 (thematic): The canonical 'David and Goliath' episode provides the primary theme of Israel's conflicts with Philistine champions and introduces the motif of giant adversaries that frames 2 Sam 21:18.
- 1 Chronicles 20:5 (verbal): Closely related verse in Chronicles that parallels a neighboring verse in Samuel (the Elhanan/Lahmi tradition); cited here to show parallel treatment and textual variation within the same Philistine/giant tradition.
Alternative generated candidates
- Afterward there was again war at Gob with the Philistines; Sibbecai the Hushathite struck down Saph, who was one of the sons of the Rapha.
- After this there was again war at Gath with the Philistines. Sibbecai the Hushathite struck down Saph, who was of the descendants of Rapha.
2 S.21.19 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- ותהי: VERB,qal,perf,3,f,sg
- עוד: ADV
- המלחמה: NOUN,f,sg,def
- בגוב: PREP
- עם: PREP
- פלשתים: NOUN,m,pl,cstr
- ויך: VERB,qal,perf,3,m,sg
- אלחנן: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- בן: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- יערי: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- ארגים: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- בית: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- הלחמי: NOUN,m,sg,def
- את: PRT,acc
- גלית: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- הגתי: NOUN,m,sg,def
- ועץ: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- חניתו: NOUN,f,sg,abs+PRON,3,m,sg
- כמנור: PREP
- ארגים: NOUN,m,sg,abs
Parallels
- 1Chr.20.5 (verbal): Almost identical wording: Elhanan son of Jaare-oregim killed 'Lahmi the brother of Goliath the Gittite' and the spear shaft is compared to a weaver's beam—this verse in Chronicles clarifies the relationship to Goliath.
- 1Sam.17.7 (verbal): The description of Goliath's spear—'the shaft of his spear was like a weaver's beam'—uses the same simile found in 2 Sam 21:19, linking the imagery to the giant's weapon.
- 1Sam.17.50 (thematic): The famous account of David killing Goliath; thematically connected because 2 Sam 21:19 attributes the death of a 'Goliath the Gittite' (or a figure named Goliath) to Elhanan, creating a tradition-critical tension with Samuel's narrative.
- 2Sam.21.15-22 (structural): The wider unit recounts multiple combats with Philistine 'giants' and the exploits of David's warriors; 21:19 is part of this series of episodes and should be read in that larger narrative context.
Alternative generated candidates
- There was another battle at Gob with the Philistines: Elhanan son of Jaare-oregim the Bethlehemite struck down Goliath the Gittite, and the shaft of his spear was like a weaver’s beam.
- And there was again war at Gob with the Philistines; and Elhanan son of Jaare-Oregim the Bethlehemite struck down Goliath the Gittite, the shaft of whose spear was like a weaver's beam.
2 S.21.20 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- ותהי: VERB,qal,perf,3,f,sg
- עוד: ADV
- מלחמה: NOUN,f,sg,abs
- בגת: PREP+NOUN,f,sg,def
- ויהי: VERB,qal,wayyiqtol,3,m,sg
- איש: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- מדון: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- ואצבעת: CONJ+NOUN,f,pl,abs
- ידיו: NOUN,f,pl,abs,suff:3,m,sg
- ואצבעת: CONJ+NOUN,f,pl,abs
- רגליו: NOUN,m,pl,abs,suff:3,m
- שש: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- ושש: CONJ+NUM,card,m,sg
- עשרים: NUM,card,pl
- וארבע: CONJ,NUM,card,f,sg
- מספר: VERB,qal,impf,1,m,sg
- וגם: CONJ
- הוא: PRON,3,m,sg
- ילד: VERB,qal,perf,3,m,sg
- להרפה: PREP+NOUN,f,sg,abs
Parallels
- 1Chron.20.6 (quotation): Direct parallel account in Chronicles of the same episode: a man of Gath with six fingers on each hand and six toes on each foot born to Rapha (verbal and narrative repetition).
- 1Sam.17.4 (thematic): Goliath, the Philistine champion from Gath, is another prominent giant/warrior associated with Gath; thematically connects Philistine giants and David’s victories over them.
- Deut.3.11 (allusion): Speaks of Og king of Bashan as a remnant of the Rephaim (Rapha), linking the Rapha/Rephaim tradition of giants to the figure here called born to Rapha.
- Num.13.33 (thematic): The spies’ report of Nephilim/giants in the land provides the broader Israelite tradition and background motif of extraordinary giants (’Nephilim/Anakim/Rephaim’) encountered in conquest narratives.
Alternative generated candidates
- There was yet another battle at Gath; there was a man of Gath who had six fingers on each hand and six toes on each foot, twenty-four in number—also he was one of the sons of the Rapha.
- And there was again war at Gath; and there was a man of Gath who had six fingers on each hand and six toes on each foot, twenty-four in all; and he too was a descendant of Rapha.
2 S.21.21 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- ויחרף: VERB,qal,wayyiqtol,3,m,sg
- את: PRT,acc
- ישראל: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- ויכהו: CONJ+VERB,qal,wayyiqtol,3,m,sg+PRON,3,m,sg
- יהונתן: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- בן: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- שמעה: VERB,qal,perf,3,f,sg
- אחי: NOUN,m,pl,suff
- דוד: NOUN,m,sg,abs
Parallels
- 2 Samuel 21:18-22 (structural): Immediate literary context: this verse is one item in a series recounting wars with the Philistines in which David's brothers and warriors slew several giant descendants of the Philistines.
- 1 Chronicles 20:6-8 (verbal): Parallel retelling of the same combats against Philistine 'giants'—Chronicles repeats the episode with variant names and details corresponding to the Samuel passage.
- 1 Samuel 17:32-58 (thematic): David's defeat of Goliath establishes the broader theme of Israelite fighters (and those close to David) overcoming Philistine champions, which the list in 2 Samuel 21 echoes.
- 2 Samuel 21:20 (verbal): Neighboring verse in the same sequence naming Sibbecai the Hushathite who slew Saph; together these verses form a cluster documenting multiple slayers of Philistine giants.
Alternative generated candidates
- When he taunted Israel, Jonathan son of Shimea, David’s brother, struck him down.
- When he taunted Israel, Jonathan son of Shimea, David's brother, struck him down.
2 S.21.22 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- את: PRT,acc
- ארבעת: NUM,card,pl,construct
- אלה: DEM,pl,abs
- ילדו: VERB,qal,perf,3,m,pl
- להרפה: PREP+NOUN,prop,sg,abs
- בגת: PREP+NOUN,f,sg,def
- ויפלו: VERB,qal,impf,3,m,pl
- ביד: PREP+NOUN,f,sg,abs
- דוד: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- וביד: CONJ+PREP+NOUN,m,sg,abs
- עבדיו: NOUN,m,pl,abs+3ms
Parallels
- 1 Chronicles 20:8 (verbal): Direct parallel account of the same event—four men from Gath born to Hariph who fell by David and his servants (language and outcome closely correspond).
- 1 Chronicles 20:4-8 (structural): Parallel narrative that retells the series of encounters with Philistine giants and the role of David and his men in slaying them; it frames the same sequence as a coherent episode.
- 1 Samuel 17:4-58 (thematic): The foundational story of David's defeat of Goliath, a Philistine champion from Gath; provides the thematic background of David overcoming Philistine giants and champions.
- 2 Samuel 21:15-22 (structural): The wider passage in which v.22 is embedded; recounts multiple combats with Philistine giants and highlights variant details across the episode (e.g., names and attributions of the slayers).
Alternative generated candidates
- These four were born to the Rapha in Gath, and they fell by the hand of David and by the hand of his servants.
- These four were born to the descendants of Rapha in Gath, and they fell by the hand of David and by the hand of his servants.
Again there was war with the Philistines against Israel. David went down with his servants and fought the Philistines, and David grew weary.
Ishbi‑benob, a descendant of the Rephaim, whose spear weighed three hundred shekels of bronze and who was girded with a new sword, intended to strike David.
Then Abishai son of Zeruiah came to his aid and struck down the Philistine and killed him. Then the men of David made this oath to him: “You shall no longer go out with us to battle, lest you put out the lamp of Israel.”
Afterward there was again war at Gob with the Philistines. Sibbechai the Hushathite struck down Saph, who was of the descendants of the Rephaim.
Again there was war at Gob with the Philistines. Elhanan son of Jaare‑oregim the Bethlehemite struck down Lahmi, the brother of Goliath the Gittite; the shaft of his spear was like a weaver’s beam.
Again there was war at Gath. There was a man of great stature whose fingers and toes were six on each hand and six on each foot—twenty‑four in all—and he too was descended from the Rephaim.
He taunted Israel, and Jonathan son of Shimea, David’s brother, struck him down.
These four were born to the Rephaim in Gath, and they fell by the hand of David and by the hand of his servants.